NACD Poster Contest
NACD Poster Contest
Submission accepted until September 15
2026 Poster Contest Theme
"Soil. Where it all Begins"
VASWCD Educational Foundation 2024 Scholarship Application
Applications are open through March 15
General Information
The annual Conservation Poster Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth-grade students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The poster contest theme follows the annual NACD Stewardship theme.
Rules and Resources
Click Here for a list of all poster contest rules.
Click here for the NACD Poster Contest Page for more resources
Click here for a guide to the Poster Contest Patch (also offers general information about the Poster Contest)
Click here for lesson plans related to the Poster Contest theme
Prizes
State winners receive recognition and a prize from the VASWCD. The 1st place poster in each category will be submitted to the National Association of Conservation Districts’ Poster Contest.
The top three posters in each category of the national contest will receive monetary prizes.
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First-place $200.00
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Second-place $150.00
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Third-place $100.00
Contest Categories:
The contest is open to all K-12 Virginia students (public, private, homeschool, scout troop, etc.)
Hand-drawn
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Entries are divided by grade level with one winner per category. Any media may be used, including paint, crayons, colored pencils, charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials. Each student is encouraged to do their own work.
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K-1st, 2nd-3rd, 4th-6th, 7th-9th, & 10th-12th
Digital
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Entries are divided by grade level with one winner per category. The posters must be a digital design and can be created on any platform used for digital projects such as Canva, PicMonkey, Google Slides, Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
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7th-9th & 10th-12th
Braille
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Any media may be used for tactile elements, including Braille, raised textures, and other materials.
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K-12th grade students who are blind or have low vision and require Braille or tactile assistance to participate.
Additional Assist
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Any media may be used. An adult may assist, with active participation from student, in creating the poster.
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K-12th grade students who require additional assistance with completing a poster.
Each year, the poster contest starts at the district level. Individuals and teachers with questions regarding district contests should contact their local district. District winners advance to the state level. Only Local Soil & Water Conservation Districts can forward their local winning poster entries to the VASWCD office for consideration at the state level. Virginia state winners will advance to the National Contest. National winners are recognized each year at the NACD Annual Meeting.
Any Girl Scout or Boy Scout who creates a poster and submits it to the Colonial SWCD for judging can earn the VASWCD Poster Contest Patch. When submitting a poster to earn the Poster Contest Patch, be sure to check the box on the entry form to receive your patch.
What is the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Educational Foundation?
The VASWCD Educational Foundation scholarship program promotes the education of Virginia citizens in technical fields with a natural resource conservation and environmental protection emphasis. The program provides financial support to students majoring in or showing a strong desire to major in a course curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies. 2022 Prospective scholarship candidates – Individual applicants must be Virginia residents and full-time college freshmen or high school senior students who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum.
Annually the Foundation provides four $2000 statewide scholarships. Individual applicants must be Virginia residents and full-time college freshmen or high school senior students who have applied to a college freshman level curriculum.
Applicants shall document a class ranking in the top 20% of his or her graduating class or a 3.0 or greater Grade Point Average or appropriate equivalent of individual scholastic achievement. The applicant’s most recent official high school transcript must accompany the application. A copy of a school transcript will not be accepted. Applicants shall demonstrate active interest in conservation.
Visit NACD’s website for more information and resources.
Please contact Amanda Whispell for more information.